Hey you,
The new high school graduate who thinks they on top of the world because you are now a college student, stop it. Yes, college is great and you are going to have the time of your life, but stop thinking you have everything figured out. You are going to miss out on so much thinking like that. You have a lot of life ahead of you. Don't get caught up focusing on the future, keep your head level and focus on the here and now.
The first week, its going to be rough. You are alone. No roommate, no friends yet, and its going to thunderstorm. Leave your room. Go meet people. You will make your first best friend in one of the strangest places, the community kitchen. Go out, be adventurous. Do things you normally wouldn't do, because you only get four very short years here.
Get involved. Find things on campus that you know you will enjoy. You will make so many more friends by being involved. Many campus organizations will help you build your resume, and I know you aren't thinking about that right now but you should be. You came to college to learn. School work is your first priority.
Your first semester you are going to be so studious. You don't want to disappoint your professor and you want them to think you are the smartest person they have in class. I know you are a proud individual and don't like being wrong, but you will be told that you are wrong a few times in class. Do not let that get to you and make you stray away from being vocal in class. Make it a rule to say at least one thing in each class per day. Your professors will know you are engaged and even make it a point to know who you are.
Social media can be so distracting, and will encompass your whole day if you let it. There will be days where you spend six hours watching youtube videos because you've entered the dark side of the internet. Do not let that become a regular occurrence. Avoid using your laptop to surf Pinterest, Buzzfeed, and Facebook. Use it instead to take notes, like you should be in the first place. Your professors actually have a lot of great things to say.
Lastly, remember who you are. College is a time to figure out who you are exactly, but don't let it completely change your values. You have those goals and values for a reason, don't let college break you down into something you are not. Don't be afraid to live. Go outside and bike, take a hike, or drive to a city that is 45 minutes away just for dinner with a group of friends at 10 p.m. on a week day. Make memories, and don't be afraid to fall in love (whether it with your major, a group of friends, or even your soul mate it something you don't want to miss out on)
